Promote

The share of profits a sponsor earns above their invested capital, after investors get their preferred return. Rewards the sponsor for making the deal work.

Also called carried interest, carry · Investment terms · Updated September 2026

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Part 1 of 4

Why a seller cares

The promote is the sponsor's share of profits after investors get their preferred return. It is how a syndicate's manager is paid for making a deal work, and it is why they push for a low purchase price on your building.

Part 2 of 4

A simple example

A syndicate buys your building, pays investors an 8% pref, and splits everything above it 70/30. The 30% is the sponsor's promote.

Promote: a simple example
The dollar of profitWhere it goes
The first, up to the 8% prefThe investors
The next, above the pref70% to investors, 30% to the sponsor
If there is no profitNobody gets a promote

The promote pays the sponsor for the upside, and the upside starts with buying well.

Part 3 of 4

What people get wrong

That the sponsor is paid a salary. Their real pay is the promote, which only exists if the deal makes money.

Part 4 of 4 · where to read next

Where it appears in the sale

What a definition is, and what it isn't

Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.

Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish

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